KARE Minneapolis Wins George Polk Award

Tegna Media’s NBC affiliate KARE Minneapolis (DMA 15) won a George Polk Award for television reporting for its investigative series Invisible Wounds. Numerous KARE investigations disclosed that the Veterans Administration in Minnesota used unqualified doctors and inappropriate medical tests on veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

KARE is the only television broadcaster to win a Polk Award this year.

“Congratulations to reporter A.J. Lagoe, producer Steve Eckert, photojournalist Gary Knox and the entire team at KARE on their outstanding and compelling investigation,” said Dave Lougee, president, Tegna Media. “Their reporting is a testament to the power of local news and the positive impact we have on our communities. While a lot has been said recently about the role of the media, this award shows that what we do matters. We are an advocate for those who are often without a voice and quality reporting can lead to meaningful change.”

A year-long investigation by KARE showed that the Department of Veterans Affairs used unqualified medical personnel to do examinations and deny benefits for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at the Minneapolis VA Medical center. KARE examined hundreds of cases from 2010 to 2014 and found veterans were examined by a doctor not qualified to diagnose TBI according to the VA’s own policies.

The George Polk Awards, established in 1949 by Long Island University, honor special achievement in journalism. Winners are chosen from newspapers, magazines, television, radio and online news organizations. The awards place a premium on investigative and enterprising reporting that gains attention and achieves results.